Compare that to the $171 billion the U.S. spent on operations in Iraq and Afghanistan and other war on terror activites last year.

The $174 billion figure includes direct medical expenditures, cost of lost productivity and diabetes-related conditions, and general medical costs like in-patient hospital care, medication and supplies, and doctor office visits. The American Diabetes Association estimates that 1 in every 10 health care dollars goes to diabetes care.

About 17.5 million Americans have diabetes and their number is growing by about 1 million a year. On average, the medical expenses of people with diabetes are 2.3 times higher than than those who don’t have the disease.

According to the report, the mounting costs can be attributed to uncontrolled diabetes which can lead to blindness, kidney disease, amputations and death.

In the old battle of guns vs. butter, it looks like butter has become the more deadly and costly victor.